Sunken Fate

Mixed Media on Wood Panel

24x36

The Bridge

Mixed Media

16x24

     My favorite new testament verse is John 3:16, which also happens to be one of the most widely known verses of the Bible, and rightfully so.  

     “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

     This verse has always stood out for me.  As a parent I can’t imagine offering my son to pay the ultimate price for the sake of all others.  I also can’t begin to imagine the torment that awaited Christ on the cross, and knowing that he alone would suffer that fate for the sake of all mankind.  A few months ago, David preached a sermon about the cross being the bridge.  As I watched while he illustrated this concept, I knew I wanted to create a piece of art that would work to further illustrate that point of view.  

     I painted the background to resemble colors apparent in a sunrise, to represent the dawn of a new day or a new life in Christ.  The cross stands in the center, a symbol of salvation, atop a mound of skulls meant to represent death, a fate that awaits us all.  The blood atop the skulls in meant to represent the price that Christ paid for our sins that we may not just parish in death but have eternal life.  Finally, the cloth draping the cross represents our sins.  The left side is completely black, but as it wraps around the cross and the right side touches the blood that has been spilt, the cloth is beginning to lighten, as forgiveness takes hold.  

     I really enjoyed creating this piece.  I know the skulls may be shocking and ugly to some, but a life without Christ, where only death awaits would not be a pretty fate and as such I felt it was necessary to emphasize that. 

Father's Embrace

Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas

12x24

     The inspiration for this piece was the Parable of the Lost Son found in Luke 15:11-31.  This is a well known parable in which the youngest son asks for his inheritance only to leave home and squander what he has.  When he reaches his lowest point, he decides to go back home and ask forgiveness from his father. “18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.”  When his father saw him coming, he was not angry, nor did he feel the need to chastise his son for his poor choices, but instead reacted with love.  “20 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” 

     This parable is meant to represent the love that God has for each of us.  In life we often make mistakes, or turn away from God, but he is the ever loving father always waiting for us to turn to him so he may wrap us in his loving arms.  This piece is meant to depict just that.  The canvas is painted with the image of the Prodigal son being embraced by his father.  I choose the colors of their clothing to depict what emotions I felt each might be feeling.  The son is wearing brown to signify his shame and sorrow as he returns home to his father.  The father is wearing blue to signify the peace and forgiveness he so willingly showed to his son.  The background is a mixture of blue and white to signify peace, forgiveness, and understanding, all the things we would expect from a loving father.  I then created hands and placed them in such a way to resemble an embrace.  Just as the father is embracing his son in the painting, God is embracing both of them on the canvas.  I used gold material in an attempt to create the illusion of a luminous robe in order to add and element of realism as the robe covers the hands.  The wings were also painted gold, in an attempt to portray the radiant light of God. 

     This piece is one that took on a life of its own.  It began as one idea and as I prayed for continued inspiration, it kept evolving and changing until it finally became the piece that is sitting before you now.  I’m happy with the finished product and hope that it inspires all who view it, the way I was inspired as I was creating it.

Price of Freedom

Acrylic on Canvas

16x20

Starry Night Farewell

Ink on Plexy

11x14

Starry Night Manger

Ink on Plexy 

11x14

Seasons of Life 

Acrylic on Canvas

24x48

     This painting was inspired by the song “10,000 Reasons” and Psalms 103:1-22.  My background is meant to depict either the rising or setting of the sun, seeing as both color the sky in much the same manner.  The people are all painted in silhouettes with no distinguishing details, this is to symbolize Psalm 103: 15-16, which states, “As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.” We are here today and gone tomorrow.  All we leave behind is memories or good deeds we accomplished while serving the Lord.  We are like shadows walking on this earth until we are called home. We should live our lives in the service of God and praising him for his love and mercies, throughout all seasons and phases of our lives.

     The painting as a whole is meant to be 4 specific scenes/phases/seasons of life. The first scene depicts spring, symbolizing life anew or the beginning of the cycle of life. The tree is in full bloom and a small boy sits underneath reading his bible. In the second scene, which takes place in summer, you can see the boy has grown into a young man and is asking his love for her hand in marriage.  The third scene takes place in the fall.  Fall is often associated with change and so too is this young man’s life, he now has children of his own and the one on his shoulders is praising God.  The final scene is winter.  Winter is often known for its harsh climates with cold and barren backgrounds.  The sun is setting on this man’s life.  He sits by the grave of his love praying, having not lost his faith.  Behind him an angel brings comfort during his time of loss.  The water below him reflects the future. In the reflection we now see two gravestones and the spirits of the man and his love reunited.  Water is often symbolized as rebirth or new life, both of which are true for the man in this painting.  He praised God through every phase and season of his life and in the end he was rewarded with life everlasting.  His life on earth may have ended but his spiritual life has just begun.